Schlereth: VJ comments on Lynch mean Broncos have given up on QB

Quarterback Paxton Lynch #12 of the Denver Broncos walks off the field in the first half of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Among the differences between this offseason and last for the Denver Broncos is that things feel a bit lighter.

On Saturday, after the final day of rookie orientation, head coach Vance Joseph said the addition of Case Keenum has lifted a weight off the backs of the football team because they “have a starting quarterback.

“It’s a relief to have everyone’s role defined from day one,” Joseph said, including former first-round pick Paxton Lynch.

Lynch, who will battle last year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” Chad Kelly for the right to backup up Keenum, can now “relax” knowing he doesn’t have to worry about a competition for the starting job, Joseph said.

“It takes time to be an NFL quarterback and you would hope that with Case being here, he can sit back, relax, and not worry about being ‘the guy’ right now,” Joseph said.

However, the comments don’t bode well for Lynch, according to “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth, that they actually mean the Bronco no longer have “faith” in what was supposed to be the team’s future starting quarterback.

“The Broncos have essentially have given up on you,” Schlereth said Monday, addressing Lynch. “You’re not a starter. You know what’s a better option for us? A guy who has been a journeyman throughout his career who finally figured it out last year.”

Schlereth said the Broncos are of the mindset that if something “miraculous” happens with Lynch, they’ll take it. But otherwise, the comments indicate the team has “no intention” of playing him again.

“You can do one of two things with that. You can either breathe a sigh of relief because there’s no pressure on you, and you can go back to playing ‘Halo’ or whatever the hell you play on your XBox or your Wii or whatever it is you guys play,” Schlereth said, “or you can actually have some hurt feelings about it. You can actually let it motivate you.”

In two NFL seasons, Lynch has played in just five games with four starts and an overall record of 1-3. He’s completed 79 of a total of 128 passes (61.7 completion percentage) for 792 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.